Am I cycled (or my aquarium) :)

[KasperS1979]

Dear All
To begin with, I am brand new to this hobby
I am 21 days into Red Seas Mature kit, and I should be able to put fish in my tank according to the guide, but I am not there yet completely (at least where the guide tells me to be)

Its a Red Sea Reefer 300
As mentioned 21 days in
Never had any algee grow at all (No ugle stage)
I already have snails, cleaner shrimps, sea stars which seems to work well
I just took all measurements and they are:

Temperature 24,5
Salinity 1.024
PH 8,2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0,05
Nitrate 20

Maybe I should also mention.
RODI Water
Caribsea LIfe Rock
Aragalive special grade sand

Question is. Am I over the startup, is it cycled and ready for a few fish ?
I am wondering why Nitrate is so high, Red Sea Guide is saying 5 at this point

I really hope some of you are able to help, I am of course afraid of putting fish in the tank, if its not cycled yet
Thank you
Greetings from Denmark
Kasper

 

[_cpate3_]

Have you done any water changes since setting it up? Nitrate is a byproduct of bacteria breaking down ammonia and nitrite. So your ammonia hits 0, then your nitrite, then you’ll have high nitrates. Do a water change and add a small bio load and it should be cycled. Especially after 21 days

Also the fact you have a cleaner shrimp and other inverts already surviving then yes it some hardy fish should be fine

 

[KasperS1979]

Yes I have. I have followed the red sea guide (it was the way I found safest, since I am brand new)
The guide tells me to do 5% water changes 3 times. And I have done that. Latest water change of 5% was today

 

[_cpate3_]

Yes I have. I have followed the red sea guide (it was the way I found safest, since I am brand new)
The guide tells me to do 5% water changes 3 times. And I have done that. Latest water change of 5% was today

I know this is entirely different as I have a nano tank, which is my only experience. But when I cycled my tank I waited until ammonia and nitrite bottomed out and then did an 80% water change and continued to do 20% water changes (because it's only 4 gallons and easy to do). But the large water change helps reset your tank WHILE keeping the beneficial bacteria in it. Gives a fresh start for any fish to build up. If you added fish now it would be like piling trash onto an already full trash can. Gotta take it out before you put more in it

also LOVE the aquascape, cant wait to see how this tank turns out

 

[Garf]

Yes I have. I have followed the red sea guide (it was the way I found safest, since I am brand new)
The guide tells me to do 5% water changes 3 times. And I have done that. Latest water change of 5% was today

You’ve got a little nitrite and is messing with your nitrate test probably. Looks good to me

 

[exnisstech]

High nitrates is a good sign in a new tank. IMO it means your cycled and ready to add fish slowly. Water changes can help reduce them even tho 20 isn't terrible

 

[twentyleagues]

Are you feeding your clean up crew? That would add to the nitrate level. Did something from your clean up crew die? Also would add to your nitrate if the tank is cycled. Id say a 50% w/c and lightly stock you should be good from there.

 

[KasperS1979]

Yes I am feeding the cleaner shrimps. I am very careful with how much food I am adding.
Well, somebody got eaten, stupid hermits ate a few of my snails, but that's a week or so ago. Can that still be the reason for Nitrate ?

 

[Garf]

Can that still be the reason for Nitrate ?

A little, yes. How much ammonia have you dosed in total?

 

[KasperS1979]

Not sure I understand your question about dosed ?
Sorry, English is not my main language )

Maximum of ammonia I have measured was on day 3. 0,8 was measured back then
I hope that was your question.

 

[exnisstech]

stupid hermits ate a few of my snails

I know hermits can be good but all mine do is kill snails and fight with each other.

 

[KasperS1979]

I know hermits can be good but all mine do is kill snails and fight with each other.

Yes you are absolutely right. It's pretty annoying, at least for me. That's not what I want. Then I prefer more snails.

 

[Garf]

Yes you are absolutely right. It's pretty annoying, at least for me. That's not what I want. Then I prefer more snails.

Did you add live rock, as in actual wet stuff?

 

[KasperS1979]

No, I added only Caribseas Life Rock. They were dry

 

[twentyleagues]

Yes I am feeding the cleaner shrimps. I am very careful with how much food I am adding.
Well, somebody got eaten, stupid hermits ate a few of my snails, but that's a week or so ago. Can that still be the reason for Nitrate ?

Food in waste out, whether its fish food or other animals. Sounds like your cycle is handling the ammonia out put.

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

Dear All
To begin with, I am brand new to this hobby
I am 21 days into Red Seas Mature kit, and I should be able to put fish in my tank according to the guide, but I am not there yet completely (at least where the guide tells me to be)

Its a Red Sea Reefer 300
As mentioned 21 days in
Never had any algee grow at all (No ugle stage)
I already have snails, cleaner shrimps, sea stars which seems to work well
I just took all measurements and they are:

Temperature 24,5
Salinity 1.024
PH 8,2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0,05
Nitrate 20

Maybe I should also mention.
RODI Water
Caribsea LIfe Rock
Aragalive special grade sand

Question is. Am I over the startup, is it cycled and ready for a few fish ?
I am wondering why Nitrate is so high, Red Sea Guide is saying 5 at this point

I really hope some of you are able to help, I am of course afraid of putting fish in the tank, if its not cycled yet
Thank you
Greetings from Denmark
Kasper

If you have been adding "Add 3 ml of NO3: PO4-X per 100L of water" I am not a chemist !

If you are concerned - I would add 6-ml or double the recommended dose for two days and check your nitrite level on the third day.

Nitrate ? could be nitrite 0.05 x100 ?

You have a nice looking tank. I wish you luck.


Probably happens !

 

[MnFish1]

Dear All
To begin with, I am brand new to this hobby
I am 21 days into Red Seas Mature kit, and I should be able to put fish in my tank according to the guide, but I am not there yet completely (at least where the guide tells me to be)

Its a Red Sea Reefer 300
As mentioned 21 days in
Never had any algee grow at all (No ugle stage)
I already have snails, cleaner shrimps, sea stars which seems to work well
I just took all measurements and they are:

Temperature 24,5
Salinity 1.024
PH 8,2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0,05
Nitrate 20

Maybe I should also mention.
RODI Water
Caribsea LIfe Rock
Aragalive special grade sand

Question is. Am I over the startup, is it cycled and ready for a few fish ?
I am wondering why Nitrate is so high, Red Sea Guide is saying 5 at this point

I really hope some of you are able to help, I am of course afraid of putting fish in the tank, if its not cycled yet
Thank you
Greetings from Denmark
Kasper

the temperature is a little low. IMHO - yes its ready to slowly add quarantined fish

 

[KasperS1979]

I am really sorry to bother you again.
My nitrate is now down to around 5, but now my nitrite is up to 0,5 suddenly.
I don't understand what's happening. ((

Should I just give it more time ? It's around a month old now

No fish yet.

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

I am really sorry to bother you again.
My nitrate is now down to around 5, but now my nitrite is up to 0,5 suddenly.
I don't understand what's happening. ((

Should I just give it more time ? It's around a month old now

No fish yet.

I think you have been feeding some de-nitrifiers with your dosing of " NO3: PO4-X " from what I've read about the Red Sea Mature Kit that would lower Nitrates !

Normal cycling with just a little fish food is just as fast ! I am interested and following the Red Sea Mature Kit as it is supposed to lower Nitrates with the feeding of de-nitrifiers ?

I think you should be good to go.

Probably happens !

 

[brandon429]

we no longer factor nitrite into cycling. the instructions you read on the bottle bac may say to, but the cycling science folks here know we don't factor it

this portion of your description is the decision point: I am 21 days into Red Seas Mature kit

at day 21, ammonia is controlled and that's all that matters in today's cycling knowledge. you're well into reefing now, cease testing for nitrite any further. it doesn't matter what it does, and the test may not even be right